Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wigan? : Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:53 pm  

Samuel Eli Tomkins has been a huge disappointment, according to Tony Smith's older brother, Brian, writing in Rugby League Week.

That article was written before last night's woeful performance by Tomkins in NZ Warriors match against Brisbane. Lucky that his team won, because Sam Tomkins let the side down badly with two pathetic attempts to tackle Ben Barba. Those missed tackles allowed Barba to score a try and put them within striking distance of the Warriors.

If Sam doesn't improve his defence I could foresee Sam released by the NZ Warriors on "compassionate grounds" to be "closer to his family" and Wigan fan base.

Let's not forget that Ian Lenagan has spoken of the likely return of Sam Tomkins to Wigan at some point. That point could be sooner than Sam had originally planned unless Sam Tomkins can improve his defence.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:26 pm  

He wasn't signed for his defence was he? If he was they are crazy.

He was signed as he scored a crap load of tries and was pivotal in wigwams play, but in NZ they don't or at least I don't think they organise around him do they?

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:47 pm  

He needs decent service in attacking positions. He's just sort of coasting through some games and barely getting his hands on the ball. Then when he has a lapse in defence it makes it look like he's had a bad game (though he's nowhere near as bad as some make out -the attempt on Barba this morning was bad however).

They spent all that money getting him out there, play to a system that suits him. The service he gets from Johnson and in particular Townsend is woeful, I'd be interested to see the stats of number of times he touches the ball per game for the NZW compares to his time at Wigan.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:16 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

He needs decent service in attacking positions. He's just sort of coasting through some games and barely getting his hands on the ball. Then when he has a lapse in defence it makes it look like he's had a bad game (though he's nowhere near as bad as some make out -the attempt on Barba this morning was bad however).

They spent all that money getting him out there, play to a system that suits him. The service he gets from Johnson and in particular Townsend is woeful, I'd be interested to see the stats of number of times he touches the ball per game for the NZW compares to his time at Wigan.

He's been used in a similiar way to what he was at wigan, out the back on the fringes. It's just defences are alot smarter and tougher so he's simply not found the same space and been able to break through better defences.

He's been awful in defence and exposed numerous times.

It's not suprise to see wigan fans beefing and jumping to his defence but the fact remains for the money paid for him, he's been a mixed bag. Some nice touches in attack, not often enough, and awful in defence.

In the NRL, where performances are measured by higher standards than they are in the mickey mouse super league, tomkins has been poor.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:22 pm  

broadybull87 wrote:

He wasn't signed for his defence was he? If he was they are crazy.

He was signed as he scored a crap load of tries and was pivotal in wigwams play, but in NZ they don't or at least I don't think they organise around him do they?

He was signed for his attacking play. He's not been an attacking force so far. He's had some good touches here and there. But again, with some of the other players in the league, it's not really anything special that he's done.

They don't organise around him? Why should they? They have other fantastic players in pivot positions like johnson. To ''organise around him'' would detriment the team. It's up to tomkins to assert his authority on play and he is failing. The only thing he is successful at is being a turnstyle in defence.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:30 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Samuel Eli Tomkins has been a huge disappointment, according to Tony Smith's older brother, Brian, writing in Rugby League Week.

That article was written before last night's woeful performance by Tomkins in NZ Warriors match against Brisbane. Lucky that his team won, because Sam Tomkins let the side down badly with two pathetic attempts to tackle Ben Barba. Those missed tackles allowed Barba to score a try and put them within striking distance of the Warriors.

If Sam doesn't improve his defence I could foresee Sam released by the NZ Warriors on "compassionate grounds" to be "closer to his family" and Wigan fan base.

Let's not forget that Ian Lenagan has spoken of the likely return of Sam Tomkins to Wigan at some point. That point could be sooner than Sam had originally planned unless Sam Tomkins can improve his defence.

What a ridiculous post. He hasn't hit top form but certainly hasn't been poor. People have short memories.

Ask Wigan fans what they thought of Pat Richards after the first half of his debut season or Warrington fans who wanted to send Matt King back home after 10-15 games. New life, new team, new competition - give the lad a chance. He has shown some great touches and made some silly mistakes. He will improve for sure.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:32 pm  

In the local Aussie media today. "Broncos fullback Ben Barba humiliated Sam Tomkins beating him both for speed and strength to burst past him and the fend him off twice to score with 20 minutes to go" Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z35JNPaxPY

In the local Aussie media today. "Broncos fullback Ben Barba humiliated Sam Tomkins beating him both for speed and strength to burst past him and the fend him off twice to score with 20 minutes to go" Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z35JNPaxPY

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:54 pm  

I've posted a few times re Tomkins, who has been slammed by an informed Aussie media (made up of some of the greatest ex players and coaches the game has seen) for simply not been good enough at this level. In short Tomkins has been completely found out at this level.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:57 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

He's been used in a similiar way to what he was at wigan, out the back on the fringes. It's just defences are alot smarter and tougher so he's simply not found the same space and been able to break through better defences.

He's been awful in defence and exposed numerous times.

It's not suprise to see wigan fans beefing and jumping to his defence but the fact remains for the money paid for him, he's been a mixed bag. Some nice touches in attack, not often enough, and awful in defence.

In the NRL, where performances are measured by higher standards than they are in the mickey mouse super league, tomkins has been poor.

The NZW play nothing like Wigan do, he's basically being used as a 3rd half back in the attacking line for NZW. Far too many times they get a set in the opposition 20 and Tomkins gets in to a position out the back and either Townsend or Johnson go themselves or turn it inside for a forward, very frustrating to watch when we know what he's capable of in those positions. I'm not jumping to his defence becuase I'm a Wigan fan, I've watched every game he's played this season and he's had a few very good games, a few average ones and a few shockers.

It may take another preseason for the coaches and other creative players to work out some more effective systems to bring Tomkins in to the game more. But this simplistic view of "the NRL is loads better than SL and he can't hack it" is well wide of the mark IMO.

Re: Could Sam Tomkins get an early mark for his return to Wi : Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:04 pm  

Shoe Shine Johnny wrote:

What a ridiculous post. He hasn't hit top form but certainly hasn't been poor. People have short memories.

Ask Wigan fans what they thought of Pat Richards after the first half of his debut season or Warrington fans who wanted to send Matt King back home after 10-15 games. New life, new team, new competition - give the lad a chance. He has shown some great touches and made some silly mistakes. He will improve for sure.

He has been poor. He's on top money which makes it worse. This is the NRL not SL. Second chances are few and far between. Ive seen lads been drooped for less than some of the bloopers Tomkins has come up with. He has defo had moments of class but they are in amongst plenty of clangers. He needs to improve big time to have a career down here.